Ethiopia launched the National Food and Nutrition Survey (FNS, 2022) preliminary report on Thursday, March 23. This survey was commissioned by the Ethiopian Ministry of Health and implemented by the Ethiopian Public Health Institute (EPHI), with support from UNICEF and collaborating partners (GAIN and Nutrition International). The FNS, 2022 is funded by The Power of Nutrition, The Eleanor Crook Foundation, The END Fund, Rotary International, and the World Bank.
“The government of Ethiopia is implementing various food and nutrition-related policies and programmes to achieve the national and Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) as well as improve the food and nutrition security of its citizens. The Ministry of Health (MoH), in collaboration with Implementing Ministries and development partners, is also coordinating the implementation of the national Food and Nutrition Strategy,” said Dr. Lia Tadesse, Minister of Health.
Ethiopia has experienced a steady reduction in the prevalence of stunting over the past two decades from 58 per cent in 2000 to 34 per cent in 2022. Early initiation of breastfeeding (initiation of breastfeeding within 1 hour of birth) has shown a slight improvement from 72 per cent (in 2019) to 77 per cent in 2022, and exclusive breastfeeding has increased from 59 per cent in 2019 to 61 per cent in 2022.
This is a result of the Government and partners’ ongoing commitment to end malnutrition in all its forms through creating policy space, expanding service delivery platforms, and capacity-building initiatives.
Despite the progress, Ethiopia is amongst the countries with the highest number of stunted children under five in the world. The average prevalence of stunting in developing countries is 25 per cent. In addition, only 8 per cent of children aged 6 to 23 months consumed the minimum recommended 5 out of 8 food groups. Overall, 47 per cent of children were in severe food poverty, meaning they consumed 2 or fewer food groups a day contributing to an observed high prevalence of wasting at 11 per cent.
“On behalf of the UN, Donors, and our development partners, we would like to commend the leadership and commitment of the Government for driving forward the Food and Nutrition Strategy baseline survey,” said Dr. Aboubacar Kampo, UNICEF Representative in Ethiopia. “Generating evidence and understanding of the nutritional status of children and their families is critical to formulating timely and relevant interventions as well as policy decisions to improve food and nutrition security across the country.”
In recognition of the remaining challenges in nutrition, health, hygiene and sanitation, the Government of Ethiopia launched the National Food and Nutrition Strategy (2022-2030), with a commitment to end malnutrition in all its forms in Ethiopia. This report provides robust data on the nutrition status of women, children, and adolescents and will inform on the implementation of the strategy across sectors.
This report validates the national programmatic priorities and the need to accelerate multisectoral responses and initiatives to improve food and nutrition security in Ethiopia, including large-scale food fortification, micronutrient supplementation programmes, and delivery of essential services for nutrition.
In addition to providing evidence on the state of food and nutrition security in Ethiopia, implementation of the FNS 2022 achieved significant local capacity building for EPHI as a reference laboratory for micronutrient assessments and food samples testing in the region. All micronutrient and food assessments are conducted locally in Ethiopia.
Ethiopia launches National Food and Nutrition Strategy Baseline Survey Report
Private sector deemed key to unlocking AfCFTA potential
The private sector’s role is vital to fully unlock benefits of the AfCFTA as it offers huge opportunities for the private sector, financial experts emphasize.
On March 20th, the Pan Africa Chamber of Commerce and Industries /PACCI/ hosted a business roundtable on AfCFTA benefits for business. Several representatives from business across Africa and high level officials from regional and international organizations participated on the meeting which aimed to create awareness on the implementation and acceleration of the Africa continental free trade agreement and its benefits.
“SMEs accounts for millions of companies operating in Africa therefore building a structure that supports their growth in to inter-Africa trade is crucial while accelerating the implementation of the AfCFTA,” Kebour Ghenna, Executive Director of the chamber stated whilst indicating that over the 90 percent of PACCI members were SMEs.
As experts indicate, from the African private sector, which constitutes 90 percent of small and medium enterprises, challenges are faced in conducting cross-border trade due to non-tariff barriers such as complex customs procedures, lack of access to finance, high costs of transportation and logistics, and lack of access to information, among others inadequate infrastructure connectivity, rudimentary productive capacity, and risky or expensive payment systems as some of the barriers to trade.
“We must push our governments and policy makers to accelerate the practical impacts of the agreement which has been rather minimal. We need to do more to put in place facilitation and regulation for export and trading,” said the executive director.
At the event, Djamel Ghrib, Director of Economic Development Integration and Trade at the Africa Union stated that, “The AfCFTA is the continents ambitious integration initiative with the aim of creating single continental market that goods and services free to move including free movement of people and business persons to expand investment and inter Africa trade relation across the continent to enhance continental development and transformation,” adding, “Africa is in challenging times due to the COVID-19 pressure, Russia-Ukraine war effect and the climate change. We at the AU commission have ties with the private sector to respond to challenges to get the prosperous Africa.”
“One of the aspects of AfCFTA is to grow continental trade in Africa which seeks technology to grow in the inter Africa trade,” said Stephen Kiptinness, Chief Corporate Affairs Officer at Safaricom telecommunications company, appreciating the recent 3 protocols including the intellectual property protocol that the AU has ratified. He remarked that one of the challenges that Africa has was indeed connectivity.
“Safaricom works to improve connectivity in inter Africa region to provide network which helps digital trade to happen. As we see, bringing Mpesa in many African countries can grow digital trade and financial services and access and inclusion,” said Stephen showing how as a private sector Safaricom is striving to meet the connectivity loopholes.
Africa’s private sector accounts for 80 per cent of total production, two-thirds of investment, and three-quarters of credit, and employs 90 per cent of the working-age population according to recent continental reports.
Top Interesting Facts You Didn’t Know About Turtles
From the alien-like ninja turtle characters to their own fantastically fascinating food and communication habits in nature, turtles are one of the most interesting reptilian species on Earth. If you’re curious to learn more about these incredible creatures, you’ll find that there is so much more than meets the eye when it comes to their lives–from astounding adaptation abilities to crazy shapes and sizes! In this blog post, we’ll dive into some truly remarkable facts about turtles; a few picks might just surprise even the most devoted turtle fanatics out there! Be prepared for some amazing education too: from health care insights to ancient oceanic migration paths, get ready as we explore together some of the best bits of knowledge surrounding these charming shelled pals.
Turtles Have Been Around Since Before The Dinosaurs
Turtles have been around longer than many of us can even fathom. They evolved over 200 million years ago, making them one of the oldest living creatures on earth. This is just one of the many great facts about turtles, not only have turtles weathered several mass extinction events, but they’ve also had their shells morph and change along with their environments. Today, we get to marvel at these hardy reptilians in zoos, aquariums, and from time to time on hikes. They deserve our respect and protection for being such a remarkable species!
Turtles Are Able To Breathe Through Their Skin
Turtles are adaptable creatures that have evolved some fascinating abilities over the years to help them survive and thrive in their environment. One of the most striking abilities is their uncanny knack for staying underwater for long periods of time without having to come up for air; this ability is made possible by their unique ability to breathe through their skin! Clearly, turtles have found a way to truly make use of the oxygen that can be found in their watery habitats, allowing them to accurately and effectively navigate this liquid world. As we marvel at all that our amazing planet has to offer, it’s no wonder these aquatic reptiles continue to draw our attention with their remarkable adaptations.
Turtles Have Special Adaptations That Allow Them To Survive In Different Climates
Turtles are remarkable animals that have uniquely adapted to their environment. From the sheer versatility of different habitats they can dwell in, such as ponds, wetlands, and even deserts, to the incredible features of their shells, turtles are remarkable survivors. For example, turtles can seal off their shells tightly when it gets colder or needs protection from predators; some species also have flaps or eyelids that cover their eyes during hibernation and cold months. Their special adaptation does more than just keep them alive—it ensures they thrive in whatever climate they find themselves living in. Without this exceptional ability to survive in various conditions, these reptiles wouldn’t be able to reach the longevity for which they are known—up to 100 years!
Most Turtles Lay Eggs On Land And A Few Species Even Give Birth To Live Young!
Out of all the world’s creatures, turtles have a truly remarkable reproductive strategy. Rather than relying on the mother to care for her young, most turtles lay their eggs in vulnerable places like sand dunes or riverbanks and then leave them to fend for themselves – hoping that they will make their way out of the eggshells and start life on their own. But that’s not all – some turtle species have actually evolved beyond this method and now give birth to live young instead! This incredible adaptation means that these turtles can protect their babies from predators by staying close and keeping them under wraps until they are ready to face the world. It’s fascinating to see how nature has found ways for different species to survive and thrive – even if it does mean playing a bit of a dangerous game with those vulnerable eggs behind on land.
Unlike Other Reptiles, Some Aquatic Turtles Can Sleep Underwater
Sea turtles have some truly remarkable qualities and adaptions; their ability to sleep underwater is certainly one of the most amusing. Though most reptiles sleep above the surface, aquatic turtles such as the painted turtle use a tactic that mimics hibernation, known as torpor, to take restful naps without breaking their streak of swimming and exploring. To do this, they purify their bloodstreams in preparation for deep sleep and tuck their vulnerable heads into the safety of their shells before closing them tight. Their bodies become suspended in time as days pass by, until they decide to awaken with renewed energy and continue on their journey through the depths beneath them. Unique natural wonders like these indicate a level of ingenuity that we can admire, yet never expect to achieve ourselves.
Turtles are truly remarkable creatures, and their ancient legacy is both awe-inspiring and humbling. From their ability to adapt to various climates and habitats to the way they breathe through their skin or even sleep underwater, there’s no denying that turtles have been around for an incredibly long time—they have unimaginable wisdom tucked deep within them! Not only do turtles teach us valuable lessons about living sustainably and adapting with patience and determination, but they are also an important part of Earth’s biodiversity and ecosystem. Let’s take a moment to appreciate these fascinating reptiles, who will hopefully continue making us marvel at their unique abilities centuries from now!
Sowing Africa’s Trading Ground
The AfCFTA is the world’s largest free trade area bringing together the 55 countries of the African Union and eight Regional Economic Communities.
The overall mandate of the AfCFTA is to create a single continental market with a population of about 1.3 billion people and a combined GDP of approximately US$ 3.4 trillion. The AfCFTA is one of the flagship projects of Agenda 2063: The Africa We Want, the African Union’s long-term development strategy for transforming the continent into a global powerhouse.
As the continental trading grounds continue to be sown, Capital’s Metasebia Teshome reached out to Melaku Desta, Coordinator of UNECA’s African Trade Policy Centre (ATPC) for in-depth insights on the trade progression.
Melaku has been advising the Government of Ethiopia, since 2004, on Ethiopia’s accession to the World Trade Organization (WTO). He has been a member of Ethiopia’s national technical committee on international trade negotiations, including WTO accession and participation in the AfCFTA.
The following are excerpts from the candid interview;
Capital: How would you best describe the Africa Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA)?
Melaku: I would describe the AfCFTA as Africa’s response to the many, small, and fragmented markets that we inherited from colonialism. As we all know, the political map of Africa is the creation of European colonialism. When European powers sat down at the infamous Berlin Conference in 1884/85, all they had was the African map, a ruler, and their respective national interests. They did not care whether the pieces of territory that were apportioned amongst these powers would stand on their own feet because they were not supposed to ever become independent and viable states anytime in the near future. On attaining independence starting in the late 1950s and 1960s, it was those artificially drawn colonial dividing lines on the map that became political borders for the newly formed sovereign African states. No wonder then that, soon after independence, many of these countries found themselves struggling to stand on their feet. Africa attained political freedom. But political freedom alone cannot enable Africa to realize the full potential and aspirations of its citizens. Instead, political freedom, not supported by economic freedom, only led to a situation where Africa only serves the interest of the former colonial powers, which we often call neocolonialism.
To this day, Africa lives with the consequences of that colonial division. We have more than 50 countries, most of them lacking the economy of scale to support industrialization and sustainable development. The AfCFTA is Africa’s response to this adverse colonial legacy. Through the AfCFTA, African countries are aiming to overcome those artificial political borders and lay the foundations for a continental single market. This market, when fully functional, contains over 1.4 billion people with a spending power of around USD 3 trillion. This market is attractive for businesses because a company that produces a particular item in Ethiopia, for example, suddenly finds itself in a position to supply such a large and increasingly attractive market. There lies the power of the AfCFTA.
African leaders have been aware of this from day one. They appreciate, from the start, that for Africa to become free, its economy must be integrated into a single market; they knew and declared repeatedly over the years that integration is a matter of survival for Africa; it is not an option.
African leaders have been unrelenting in their pursuit of the vision towards a single pan-African market since 1963 when they established the Organization of African Unity (OAU). The Lagos Plan of Action of 1980, the Abuja Treaty of 1991, and the AfCFTA of 2018 are all landmarks on that same road toward an African single market. The journey has not been smooth, nor could it have been. It has had its own challenges. Because it had these challenges, there are many who cast doubt on the viability of the AfCFTA project as well. To them, I have only one answer that I put in the form of a question: what is the alternative? The status quo is not an option. Africa must integrate. For those who are ready to see the glass half full rather than half empty, Africa already has a great record of integration. Just look at the East African Community (EAC) next door, or the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) further afield, and many in between. The markets in these sub-regions are already co-integrated and the AfCFTA is in fact built using them as building blocks and learning from their rules, institutions, and traditions, which we technically call the REC acquis. The AfCFTA holds tremendous promise, but its realization is in the hands of all Africans.
We have faced challenges previously, but let’s learn the right lessons from those challenges. Once bitten, twice shy might be a useful maxim in some areas, but certainly not here.
Trade-led integration is good for Africa for more than merely economic reasons. There are political reasons, too. Countries that trade with each other are more likely to be at peace with each other than those that do not trade. People do not kill their customers. The main objective of the AfCFTA is to create a unified African market that permits unrestricted trade in goods and services across Africa. The goal of the AfCFTA, which our forefathers have been working so hard to achieve over decades, is to unite Africa first as a single market and then as a single political unit.
Capital: The agreement was signed on March 21, 2018. It’s been 5 years, almost 4 years since it went into force, but it is not going as planned. Of course, there have been and still are different challenges, including COVID-19 and global geopolitics, that the continent is facing. In light of this, how do you see the overall readiness of governments in the implementation process?
Melaku: In my opinion, the level of government preparedness varies by country. Typically, when we discuss about Africa, we make the erroneous assumption that all African nations are the same. That is not true. AfCFTA implementation faces different challenges in different countries, often reflecting the policies, regulations, and institutions in place prior to the AfCFTA itself. For instance, Ethiopia, a founding member of the League of Nations, the IMF, the World Bank, and later the UN, has never been a member of a single functioning trade agreement; although it is a founding member of COMESA, its participation in the COMESA free trade area has been very limited. Ethiopia is also a part of IGAD, one of the eight AU-recognized regional economic communities, but IGAD hardly deals with trade issues.
The East African Community (EAC), one of the most advanced and effective RECs on the continent, is next door, but Ethiopia is not part of it. If we look at Kenya, regional integration remains one of the pillars of the country’s economic development strategy. Some nations have both the capacity and the interest; others have the interest but not the capacity; and still others, such as Ethiopia, have the capacity but lack the demonstrated political will, understanding, and experience. The AfCFTA is a learning and trading opportunity for Ethiopia.
Several countries are moving fast. Ghana, Egypt, Rwanda, Kenya, South Africa, and Mauritius can be mentioned as good examples. These countries could not even wait to start trading under the AfCFTA until all others are on board. Within the AfCFTA itself, eight countries have launched the so-called Guided Trade Initiative (GTI) through which they are already trading on AfCFTA preferential terms. Ethiopia and others need to move fast.
AfCFTA implementation creates enormous opportunities for Ethiopia to overhaul its regulatory system and make it conducive for the business sector. It has been five years since the Agreement was signed, and it will be four years on May 1 since it entered into force. The progress so far is broadly encouraging but we all need to do more and faster.
Capital: Why are some countries taking AFCFTA as a challenge to their economies?
Melaku: I don’t believe they see it as a concern; if the political will were an issue, countries would not be ratifying or signing the agreement at the speed and numbers they have done. The primary problem often is one of technical capability. In Ethiopia, for example, the Ministry of Trade and Regional Integration has the mandate to coordinate and lead the implementation of the AfCFTA, but it also has the responsibility to ensure all stakeholders are informed and involved. The key implementation challenge in my view is more technical than political. Of course, in Ethiopia’s situation, Covid-19 was immediately followed by a deadly conflict, diverting the political attention away from AfCFTA implementation. I am seeing encouraging movements recently in this direction.
Capital: Ethiopia has been working a lot to be a member of the World Trade Organization, but it has been delayed; what is its status now?
Melaku: Ethiopia started the process of accession over two decades ago. In 1997, Ethiopia applied for and secured observer status at the WTO. Six years later, in 2003, it formally applied for membership and launched the accession process. In 2006, it submitted its Memorandum of Foreign Trade Regime, which was distributed to WTO members in January 2007. The Ethiopian Accession Working Party held three meetings until 2012, after which it paused for a long time. I suspect there might also be interest groups that didn’t want Ethiopia to be a member.
Following the change of Government in 2018, Ethiopia resumed the WTO accession negotiation process. In January 2020, after an eight-year pause, the 4th meeting of the Ethiopian Accession Working Party was held in Geneva.
I have been participating in all four working Party Meetings, and my observation is that the Government has had the interest to join the WTO, but the process itself is long while the political momentum has also been unsteady.
WTO membership negotiations follow two tracks; bilateral and multilateral. On the bilateral front, Ethiopia has commenced negotiations with interested WTO members on terms of market access, such as the level of tariffs that can be imposed on imports. Through the multilateral track, Ethiopia has been engaged in negotiations to bring its policies, laws, and institutions into conformity with WTO requirements. The process is long and challenging, but I am confident that it will be completed successfully.
The main problem I see in many countries, including Ethiopia, is that most such initiatives are dependent on particular personalities. When a particular individual occupies a particular position, you see movement; when that person moves or dies, the entire project can easily come to a halt. That is why institutions are critical.
Capital: African countries are on the same level of industrialization and mostly depend on importing items from Asia, Europe, and other non-African continents. Without strong industries and manufacturing capacity, what is the benefit of opening all the tariff barriers?
Melaku: That’s a good question. Most African economies are dependent on extractive industries like mining, oil and gas, and agriculture. We have a very low industrial base. Of course, we need to produce goods before we can speak about trading in goods. So, our productive capacity is critical.
Then there is the AfCFTA. Why is it relevant for our productive capacity? Because the large single market that nit aims to create provides a major incentive for African entrepreneurs to produce at scale.
Some have argued that there is a lack of trade complementarity among African countries. In other words, what many African countries produce and export does not match what many African countries want to import; in fact, they are competitors on the global market for the same customer. This appears to make sense at first sight. But, on closer scrutiny, it becomes apparent that, as soon as we start adding value to our primary products, differentiation starts. Trade complementarity is therefore a function of value addition and beneficiation.
Capital: Countries like Ethiopia might lose revenue due to AfCFTA-led trade liberalization and the reduction of tariffs at the border. How do you see this?
Melaku: I’m not sure what the exact number is, but Ethiopian Government’s income from goods imported from other African countries is probably less than 1%. This is not unexpected given that we rely heavily on imported goods from non-African sources. We don’t have a lot of trade relations with African countries, so we don’t have a lot to lose.
Capital: How do you see the overall understanding of the private sector about AFCFTA?
Melaku: When we speak of trade deals, we are referring to the removal of trade barriers and the establishment of a more predictable and open trading and business climate. The private sector is the primary player; AfCFTA is a start, but private sector empowerment is required to realize the advantages of freer trade. The private sector is an essential stakeholder in the AfCFTA. We acknowledge the critical role of the private sector in pushing intra-Africa trade and increasing Africa’s manufacturing capacity, and we need to ensure that the private sector is on the driver’s seat so to speak.
Of course, more effort is needed to increase awareness of the AfCFTA’s details and how businesses can benefit. For example, at the UNECA, we work closely with the business sector through its organizations, such as the Ethiopian Chamber of Commerce and Sectoral Associations (ECCSA).
Capital: Infrastructure, currency, and free movement of people are some major challenges for the full implementation of the AfCFTA. How can these issues be addressed to accelerate implementation of the Agreement?
Melaku: Yes, even though our manufacturing capacity has grown, commerce is still impossible without adequate infrastructure, including all forms of transit (air, land, rail, and water). This is a significant problem that is difficult to address because it requires a lot of capital, good project management skills, and so forth. There has been a lot of progress that we often do not recognize. For example, in Ethiopia we have the best airline on the continent; the road network which connects neighboring countries is expanding; etc. We can also take the Kazungula Bridge over the Zambezi River which connects Zambia and Botswana. I can go on and on. All these things give us hope that progress is indeed possible.
We have 42 different currencies in use in Africa. If you travel anywhere with US dollars or euros, it is okay, but if you are holding your local currency, you are likely to struggle. This has to come to an end. Africa is losing around 5 billion dollars annually due to currency conversion alone. To stop this, Afreximbank has now launched the Pan-African Payments and Settlements System (PAPSS), which is expected to enable payment across Africa using national currencies, simplifying the complexities and cost of making payments across borders and providing operational efficiency. Here, traders make payments in their local currency to beneficiaries through PAPSS, and beneficiaries will receive their payments in their own currency. It is now at an early stage, but it is promising.
Capital: In their latest meeting, the AU heads of state approved three protocols:
investment, competition policy, and intellectual property. What do you think about these moves?
Melaku: The approval of these three protocols is a major achievement. Investment is about capital movement, while competition policy aims to ensure the market is not distorted by anti-competitive business practices, such as price-fixing or market segmentation practices. The protocol on intellectual property aims to foster African innovation for the benefit of Africa and the rest of the world.
The summit had some important outcomes. It was focused on implementing the Africa Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) and expediting its implementation. Once again, the summit demonstrated that the political will behind the AfCFTA remains undiminished. Indeed, accelerated implementation of the AfCFTA was declared as the theme of the year 2023. The next frontier is implementation. We are eager to see the action unfold
